Gentle Men is a series of portraits that celebrates a gentler and more compassionate masculinity.
Artist Statement:
“Shine a light on what you want to see more of in the world”: that was the impetus for making this project. In a time when we are inundated with images of toxic men, when manhood is getting conflated with stoicism and emotional restraint, I wanted to put something into the world that encouraged a broader narrative.
My hope is that this series of portraits and accompanying video trailer might remind us of the quiet places where strength and softness meet. And get us thinking about the ways gentleness - and qualities that stem from it, like compassion, presence, and emotional openness - expand us. How they help us to create emotional space to feel safer with each other, how they make it easier to show up as our true selves, how they encourage deeper connections with ourselves and with the people around us, and how all of these things eventually lead us to having more fulfilling lives.
Ultimately, I hope this project invites viewers to reflect on the evolving definitions of manhood and to consider how a gentler, more emotionally aware masculinity can shape not only individual lives but also broader cultural conversations.
Gentle Men is a personal project by Nadyne Kasta
with House of Common Studio
It features:
Aaron Daley
William Lalonde
Shane Mendonsa
Paul Ruban
Scott Warren
It was shot in Chelsea and Hull, Québec in September 2024.
Creative direction + video editing by Nadyne Kasta
Photography + video by Rémi Thériault
Assistance by Maryn Devine
Creative projects with no budgets do not appear out of thin air.
This particular one was made possible thanks not only to the talented folks listed above but also to Matt Delaney, Susannah Heath-Eves, Marie-Camille Lalande, and Chris Snow.
Everything in my life, including this project, is made exponentially better and gentler thanks to the infinite love I receive from my family.
If you’re interested in the subject of masculinity, toxic masculinity and healing from it, there are lots of interesting ideas in the work of James Hollis and Terry Real.